SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — Republicans are meeting in regional conventions around Missouri to pledge their support in the presidential race.

The Republican Party was holding eight district conventions Saturday during which 24 of the state’s 52 delegates will be pledged to support particular presidential candidates at this year’s Republican National Convention.

The likely Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, is expected to pick up some of the delegates, but not all of them.

The more than 2,000 people participating in the conventions were chosen at county and township caucuses early this year, before Rick Santorum suspended his presidential campaign. Consequently, many participants at the conventions included supporters of Romney, Santorum and Ron Paul.

At one convention, in Sedalia, the meeting began with a prayer for unity among Republicans.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)